Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today is the feast day of the Assumption of Mary, the Mother of Jesus/God, “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

This day, when I was a child, was big in our Lebanese household, where we joined many Catholics from the Middle East for a celebration at Holy Hill, a National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians near Milwaukee.

For the people of Mexico and Central and South America it is the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe that is close to their heart and devotion. Shortly after the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, 1519–1521, Mary appeared to a simple indigenous peasant named Juan Diego . It is important to people of Mexico and Central and South America that Mary did not appear to the powerful Spanish conquerors but to one of their own. Mary asked Juan to build a shrine at the spot, in Mexico City, where they stood. Juan Diego, after several rejections by the local bishop was able to see him and told by the Bishop that he needed a sign to convince the bishop. When Juan asked Mary for a sign she gave him some roses to present to the bishop. When Juan opened his cloak to give the bishop the roses an image of Mary was inside the cloak. This image is on display today at the Basilica of Guadalupe, now one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world.

When we were there last week on an ordinary weekday there were an extraordinary number of Hispanic people there to seek the help of Mary. The cloak there is still one of Juan Diego. The depth of the devotion at this shrine was felt. It was truly sacred ground.

There are many images of Mary in many countries. For the people of Mexico, Central and South America it is the Mary of our Lady of Guadalupe that relates the people of faith to God. Mary relates many ordinary peoples of a variety of cultures to God. Mary is for all.

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